ENG-2005 — Page 445

Religion and Custom | 387

Protestant Community

The Protestant movement in Hong Kong began in 1841 and has a current membership of 320 000 believers. The Protestant community is composed of more than 50 denominations with 1 400 congregations. Most of the major international denominations and former mission agencies have ecclesial establishments in Hong Kong, such as the Adventist, Anglican, Baptist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Salvation Army. There are many indigenous denominations such as The Church of Christ in China (representing Presbyterian and Congregational traditions), the True Jesus Church and the Local Church (commonly known as the Little Flock). With the emphasis on youth work, many congregations have a high proportion of young people.

The Protestant community operates three post-secondary institutions: the Chung Chi College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and Lingnan University. It runs more than 630 schools (273 kindergarten, 206 primary schools and 160 secondary schools) and 116 nurseries. It also operates more than 30 theological seminaries/Bible schools, 30 Christian publishing houses and 70 Christian bookstores. There are two Christian weekly newspapers, the Christian Times and Christian Weekly, which present news and comment from a Christian perspective, half a dozen Christian media agencies which broadcast regular Christian TV programmes and four weekly Christian radio programmes on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).

More than 200 para-church agencies and various Christian action groups minister to the Protestant community, respond to current issues and concerns within Hong Kong society and support emergency relief and development projects both in Mainland China and developing countries.

The Protestant community runs seven hospitals and 18 clinics. Sixty social service organisations provide a wide range of services including more than 250 community (family/youth) service centres, 75 day care centres, 17 children's homes, 35 homes for the elderly, more than 100 centres for the elderly, 47 training centres for the mentally handicapped and disabled, 25 drug rehabilitation centres, and chaplaincy services for prisons, hospitals and the airport. There are also 15 campsites. The YMCA and YWCA manage five international hotel-style guesthouses.

Two ecumenical bodies, the Hong Kong Christian Council and the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Church Union, facilitate cooperative work among the Protestant churches in Hong Kong. The Chinese Christian Church Union was established in 1915 and has a current membership of more than 300 congregations. The Christian Council was formed in 1954 and its core membership - major denominations, ecumenical service agencies and the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia - is committed to building a closer relationship among all churches in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. The Council also encourages local Christians to play an active part in the development of Hong Kong society. It seeks to serve the wider community through its affiliated organisations such as the Hong Kong Christian Service, Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee, United Christian